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Residents say Downtown Kinston filming omitted Black-owned businesses; city director criticized
Summary
Two residents told the Council that a recent Downtown Kinston filming schedule omitted Black-owned businesses and called the city's follow-up video inadequate; they urged the Council to ensure downtown promotion reflects the city's majority-Black population.
Katherine Webb and Quarla Blackwell addressed the Kinston City Council on July 21, pressing city leaders to ensure a downtown filming initiative represents local Black-owned businesses. Webb said the filming schedule published June 25 by Downtown Kinston Director Leon Steele listed no Black-owned businesses and called the city's subsequent “clear the air” video “a pitiful excuse of an apology,” arguing it shifted blame off the director rather than correcting the omission.
Webb urged that the finished production be amended to show “what Kinston actually looks like,” adding, “The people who are here now, the people who pay taxes here, the population of this city is important, and it should be in that video.” Quarla Blackwell framed her comments in statutory terms, citing North Carolina General Statutes 160A-67 and 160A-148 to remind the Council that city management is vested in the Council and that the manager serves at its direction. Blackwell urged more proactive Council leadership, asking staff to present plans on housing, crime prevention and utility relief and to add agenda items when needed.
Mayor Moore and staff did not take action on the filming item at the July 21 meeting; staff response on amendments or follow-up was not specified in the record. The comments were recorded during the public comment portion of the meeting.
